QEB MEDIA RELEASE: Quess East Bengal FC has reached Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The preseason training is taking place in MSN Sports Complex, Setiawangsa Sports Complex at Kuala Lumpur from 4th Oct to 22nd Oct, 2018. QEBFC, as a part of practice, are scheduled to play the following 2 matches in Kuala Lumpur:

7th October - vs UITMFC - Malaysian Premier League
10th October - vs UKMFC - Malaysian Premier League
The team may play a few more practice matches in due course.

The team will return to Kolkata on 22 Oct 2018 late night.

INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE -2018-19 ( NEWS BELOW)

KIA MOTORS TIED UP WITH BENGALURU FC AS PRINCIPLE SPONCER

BENGALURU FC PRESS RELEASE - 5.10.18 : Bengaluru FC announced a landmark partnership with automobile manufacturing giants Kia Motors who will now be the club’s principal sponsors in a deal that runs through the end of the 2021-22 season. To formalize the partnership, Kia Motors India and Bengaluru Football Club signed a MoU in the presence of Mr. Kookhyun Shim - MD & CEO, Kia Motors India and Mr. Parth Jindal - CEO, Bengaluru Football Club. Also present at the announcement was club captain Sunil Chhetri, Erik Paartalu and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
The partnership will now see Bengaluru FC turn out with the Kia logo emblazoned in the front of the club shirt.
Kia's global sports sponsorship portfolio includes FIFA, UEFA Europa League, Australian Open, and LPGA, to name a few. With Kia’s India brand launch scheduled for June 2019, the automaker has found the perfect partner in BFC to share its success story and vision, while strengthening community engagement, especially among young fans.
“Bengaluru Football Club’s partnership with Kia is a historic association in Indian football. Kia has a rich background of partnerships with sports including a host of world-class sporting events and teams. For Kia to choose Bengaluru FC as a medium to announce its presence in India is a matter of pride for the club and is also a big testament to the fan culture that the team and the city have created. The JSW name that the club wore with pride, is now entwined in Bengaluru FC. Now, with Kia alongside us, we are looking forward to doing great things to grow the sport in the country,” said Mr. Parth Jindal - CEO Bengaluru Football Club.
Speaking about the new partnership, Mr. Kookhyun Shim - CEO & Managing Director, Kia Motors, said, “We at Kia, are as passionate about sports as we are about our world class cars. Our past and current partnerships with different sporting championships across the world are a clear sign of our enthusiasm for sports. As we extend this legacy to India, we aim to foster and inspire youngsters in the country to become a part of the global sports community. We are proud to associate with one of the most consistently successful teams in the ISL - Bengaluru FC, and we look forward to an excellent season with memorable experiences for millions of football enthusiasts throughout India.”
Also present at the announcement was club captain Sunil Chhetri who has been sporting the club’s iconic shirt over the past five seasons. At the unveiling of the Kia logo-emblazoned jersey, Chhetri said, “I have been a part of the Bengaluru FC’s growth story from day one; we have taken big steps with every passing season. This association says so much about the club’s intent to grow, Kia has been a global ambassador of football and it was a real honor for me to be a part of the jury for Kia’s Official Match Ball Carrier Initiative where two kids were selected to be the first-ever Official Match Ball Carriers from India for the FIFA World Cup 2018. With this partnership, we are confident of encouraging and strengthening the rapidly evolving football community in India.”

CHENNAIYIAN FC PRESS RELEASE - 24.9.18: Chennaiyin FC unveiled their first team squad for the 2018-19 Indian Super League season at a press conference here today. The reigning Indian Super League champions have retained twelve players from the successful 2017-18 campaign and promoted CFC B team players Hendry Antonay, Bedashwor Singh and Zonunmawia to the 25-man squad for their ISL title defence.

The core of last seasons squad has been retained with four foreigners, Raphael Augusto, Mailson Alves, Inigo Calderon and Gregory Nelson, continuing while Brazilian defender Eli Sabia, Italian midfielder Andrea Orlandi and Palestine forward Carlos Antonio Salom are the new foreign additions.

CFC's pre-season preparations comprised a month in Malaysia followed by 10 days in Goa. They played four friendlies in Malaysia before a double-header against All India Football Federation (AIFF)'s developmental side Indian Arrows in Goa.

ISL: 2ND MEDIA DAY AT KOLKATA

KFC NEWS DESK - 22.9.18: ISL observed the second Media Day at Kolkata after Bengaluru with the three teams from the eastern part of India, two times champions ATK, North East United FC and Jamshedpur FC. The coaches as well as footballers expressed their views regarding the forth coming fifth edition of the competetion which will going to kick off on the 29th September.

VIEWS OF THE COACHES: EELCO SCHATTORIE - NORTH EAST UNITED

Eelco is not a new came in Indian football. He is quite experienced in Indian football circuit as he worked with United football Club and East Bengal in the recent past. While expressing his views at Kolkata today the Dutch coach said, " Our prime target is to qualify for the play off stages. It is a huge task for me to combine this relatively younger side. If you have never qualified, you are asked to do so. Yes, there is huge pressure on me. I believe lower budget and low-quality players don't matter in football. Everything is possible. Taj Mahal was not built in a day and if you want to build something it takes time."
STEVE COPPELL - HEAD COACH ATK
The British coach Steve Coppell was associated with Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC in the last two editions respectively. After managing these two franchisee quite successfully Steve decided to join as the Head Coach of ATK in order to revive the past glory of the Kolkata team.

In his massage Steve Coppell said, "We had a good preseaon and are confident to regain the past glory after an unsuccessful campaign in the last edition. ATK signed footballers who played in India in the past with a proven track record. We are prepared for the tournament and ready to utilise the opportunity. The squad is quite balanced with experienced and young talented footballers but we have to prove ourselves right from the start of the tournament. I know that it is agreat challange for us to play successfully at the highest level. We will make reqired changes as the tounament progess. It is a long season and we will change our attitude and style during the course of the tournament."

CESAR FERRANDO - HEAD COACH NE UNITED FC

This is the first assignment for Cesar Fernando in Indian football. The experienced Spanish coach managed clubs like Valacia B and Atletico Madrid in the past.Tim Cahill is a name synonymous with aficionados of the Premier League, given his illustrious eight-year-long stint at Everton FC. Jamshedpur FC, the football team owned by Tata stell is playing only in the second season.

Cesar Fernando in his massage said," Jamshedpur FC is a young, talented and balanced side and are capable of perform well as the tournament progess. The team consists of footballers like Subrata Paul, experienced Australian striker Tim Cahill as well as young talents from Tata Football Academy like Vishal, Mobi and Gaurav. My prime object is to maintain our defense first and will attack finally. We will play in short passes and will create pressure to the oppornants. We had a good preseason though we have some injuries. Our main target is to win finally."

ISL: 1ST MEDIA DAY AT BENGALURU

ISL MEDIA RELEASE - 20.9.2018: Bengaluru, 20th September 2018: When the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) kicked off in 2014, not only did it change the Indian domestic football scene but also revitalised the sport in South India. For long, South India had produced many star footballers who went on to claim national fame. Players like IM Vijayan, T Abdul Rahman, Peter Thangaraj are all household names. But in the 21st century, the region saw the game’s popularity on the wane with many clubs shutting shop.
The ISL, though, has sparked the dormant love for football in these states. Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC command sizeable fan followings which has made witnessing a match in Kochi and Chennai a pleasurable experience. To add to it, Bengaluru FC were added to the ISL in 2017, giving fans from Karnataka representation as well. The revival in popularity has translated to success on field. Safe to say that, the South Indian clubs have dominated the ISL in all its four editions so far.

Twice in four years, Chennaiyin FC won the competition. Kolkata’s ATK claimed the trophy twice as well, but a South Indian club has always competed for the silverware in the final in all four editions. In the first season, Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC reached the play-offs along with ATK (then Atletico de Kolkata) and FC Goa. It was the Kochi-based team who reached the final after a thrilling two-legged tie against Chennaiyin FC, before losing at the death against the Kolkata side.

The second season saw Chennaiyin FC reach the play-offs again where they defeated ATK and then put it across FC Goa, at home, in a stunning finale when they scored two goals in the last three minutes. Chennaiyin were disappointing the next season but the South India quotient was kept intact by Kerala Blasters who found their way to the final. Playing at home, they were heavy favourites, only to be pipped at the post by ATK.
The 2017-18 season saw Bengaluru FC join the two South Indian rivals in the ISL, establishing new rivalries.The Blues and Marina Machans went on to enjoy stellar seasons as they grabbed the top-two spots in the league stage. Both would go on to make it to the final, setting up a grandstand finish to the competition.

It would be Chennaiyin FC who would ultimately triumph in the battle between the two best sides from the season, underlining the superiority that South Indian clubs have enjoyed in the league. Now, as the new season beckons, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC are all front-runners for a spot in the play-offs.

“We have to be mentally tough. You just don't win it only once but you go back and defend it. The thing that I am trying to instill in my squad is that champions do not win only once. They go and defend it year after year. It is more of a mental thing,” said Chennaiyin FC’s ISL winning coach John Gregory.

Kerala Blasters head coach David James is also eyeing the trophy that slipped away twice from their grasp. “I think the quality of characters we have in the dressing room, they can deal with things. It’s a wonderful bunch we have together and we have a chance to get our hands on the trophy after missing out twice,” he stated.

By virtue of winning the ISL last season, Chennaiyin FC will becoming the first ISL club to now compete in AFC Cup. Blasters’ coach says the dream is not too far for his side to step in the Asian competitions too. “The progress ISL has shown from the inception year of 2014 to now has been phenomenal. If first year was a lot of trials and test, season 5 will be a reflection of league settling down. Clubs are aiming for not just for ISL title now but AFC competitions as well.”

ISL has certainly brought forth the South Indian states in football, and one can expect the three southern clubs vying for the coverted trophy in 2018-19 and ahead.

EAST BENGAL DENIES FALSE STORIES REGARDING MOHUN BAGAN COACH

14.9.18: East Bengal club in a press release denies the false news of joining of Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty. A news paper published from Kolkata claims that Quess East Bengal FC Chief Coach Alejandro Menendez is keen to have Chakraborty join the team as his assistant. Today in a press release QEBFC denies and stated the news as baseless.

QEBFC PRESS RELEASE : Quess East Bengal FC would like to officially refute false news reports claiming the club’s wish to have Mohun Bagan FC coach Mr. Shankar Lal Chakraborty join the club. QEBFC & Quess has always been clear about the club’s adherence to ethical practices and would like to reserve the right to take strong legal action against those who are spreading such malicious stories.

The news story claims that Quess East Bengal FC Chief Coach Alejandro Menendez is keen to have Chakraborty join the team as his assistant. QEBFC CEO, Mr. Sanjit Sen, would like to clarify that these are concocted stories and fabricated reports, without an iota of truth.

Quess and QEBFC has great faith in Sen and Alejandro as change makers and would like to rest all such false claims to rest.

MOHUN BAGAN TIED UP WITH STREAMCAST

5.9.18: Mohun Bagan finally finds a sponcer. Worlds leading technology group Streamcast agreed to tie up with Mohun Bagan for ten years. Streamcast is a leading technology group provides
SAAS straming services to internet infrastructure group, with offices at England, USA, Dubai,
Kenya, Malta and India.

Streamcast will insvest initially 200 crores which may likely to increse to an additional
amount of 150 crores. Mohun Bagan were in talks with Streamcast for last few months and
finally agreed to tied up with 74% share.The resolution being passed in the Executive committe
meeting of Mohun Bagan.The agreement is likely to be signed on 9th September.

MEXICAN STRIKER ENRIQUE JOINS RED & GOLD

30.8.18: East Bengal rope in Enrique Esqueda, a striker from Mexico. The agreement with Enrique is for nine months. Sources said that Mexican striker applied for his visa after the agreement and he is likely to arrive at Kolkata early next week.
The thirty years old Enrique started his professional carrier for Club America was a part of U 17 World Cup in 2005. Enrique is now a free footballer after he completed his four years term with Tigres UANL.

INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE 2018-19 : ANNOUNCED FIXTURE

The fifth edition of Indian Super League 2018-19 will going to kick off on 29th of September. The opening ceremony followed by inaugural match between ATK and Kerala Blasters will be played at Yubabharati Kriangan, Kolkata. ISL today published the fixture till December 2018. The schedules of 2019 will be published in due course.

23.8.18: After the inclusion of Jonny Acosta, Costa Rican central defender East Bengal rope in Spanish defender Broza Gomes Perez to strengthen their fortress. Perez had the experience of playing in La liga and played in clubs like Rayo Vallacano,Granada CF,Hercules CF, CD Lugo, Real Oviedo and AD Alcorcon. Parez played in Ukranian premier league club FC Karpatty Livv. Perez's last club was UD San Sabestian.

Perez is likely to arrive in the city shortly.

EAST BENGAL WITHDRAW OFFER FROM GAMBO MUHAMMAD

East Bengal Club in a Press Release informed the withdrawal of its offer to the Nigerian striker Gambo Muhammad due to prolonged delay in his VISA.

PRESS RELEASE:

Quess East Bengal FC (QEBFC) today announced the withdrawal of its offer to Nigerian international footballer and prolific striker, Gambo Muhammad, due to prolonged delay in the issuance of his Professional Employment VISA as per procedures of the Indian Embassy in Nigeria. This decision has been taken keeping the best interests of Quess East Bengal FC fans and supporters in mind. Earlier this week, Gambo Muhammad was signed by QEBFC for the 2018-19 football season.

The delay in issuance of his Professional Employment VISA will result in violation of FIFA international player registration norms. Quess East Bengal FC is mindful of the fact that this delay has the potential to affect the professional football career of the concerned player and the formation of the Quess East Bengal FC entity itself for the current football season. Hence, it has taken the decision to withdraw the offer to the player.

ALEJANDRO MENENDEZ THE SPANISH COACH TO JOIN EAST BENGAL

KFC NEWS DESK - 20.8.18: East Bengal are now set to sign Alejandro Menendez Gracia, the experienced Spanish coach in a long term basis. According to the sources the talks are almost at the final stage and Menendez will sign the agreement shortly and like to take charge of Red and Gold at the end of this month.

Alejandro Menendez a fifty two years old Spanish coach had the experience to work with Real Madrid youth side, Real Madrid Castilla as well as the Asian clubs like Shaanxi Wuzhou of China and Burriam of Thailand. Menendez can be reckoned as the most high profile coach in the history of East Bengal as well as in the Indian football.

It has been learnt that Menendez will be in charge of the senior team of the club but he will going to work as a adviser with the youth teams and in the youth development programme. Alejandro Menendez will join with his two assistants, one Video analyst and physical trainer. East Bengal are in a target to participate in ISL and I league simultaneously from 2019-20 and the joining of Menendez is the first step towards that.

What will be the role of current Technical Director Subash Bhowmick, coach Bastab Roy and Ranjan Chowdhury after the joining of the Spanish coach and his team. It is million dollar question in Kolkata maidan now.

NIGERIAN STRIKER MUMAMMED GAMBO JOINS EAST BENGAL

KFC NEWS DESK-19.8.18 East Bengal confirms the signing of Nigerian striker Muhammed Gambo for the season 2018-19. In a press release East Bengal stated that the thirty years old Nigerian striker joined the club after his ten years long relation with the premier division club of Nigeria Kano Pillars.

Muhammed Gambo has won three NPFL titles with the Kano Pillars in his 10+ year association with the club. One of the cult heroes for his fans, the 30-year-old skipper has played for the CAF Champions League and was also part of Nigeria Football Team aka Super Eagles, in the match against world champions Spain at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil. His first international goal, however, was for Nigeria's B team in the CAF CHAN qualifier against Cote d'Ivoire at Kaduna.

In his massage Muhammed Gambo said, "It is a great pleasure to be associated with the legendary club and I am excited to keep living my passion for football and keep performing well as we strike more goals together."

It is a good gain for East Bengal after Jonny Acosta, the central defender of Costa Rica joined.Gambo will have to pass in the medical test and will sign only after the international clearance and immigration.

INDIA GIRLS ARE SAFF U-15 CHAMPIONS

AIFF PRESS RELEASE: THIMPHU (BHUTAN), 18th August 2018 : India U-15 girls were crowned Champions of the SAFF U-15 Championship after defeating defending champions Bangladesh U-15 by a solitary goal in the final played at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan today (August 18, 2018).
Sunita Munda’s strike in the 67th minute made all the difference between the two teams. It was a hard-fought victory with both teams having hit the woodwork once.
The Indian girls started in an attacking fashion and as early as the 2nd minute, Avika Singh’s free-kick rattled the bar and off the rebound, Shilky Devi’s header went inches wide.
Three minutes later, Sunita Munda with a solo run burst into the rival box but only with the opposition goalkeeper to beat, she fumbled.
Spurred, the Indian girls dominated possession and created chances almost at will. Kritina Devi’s speed down the flanks proved to be a constant threat for the opposition defence. The opposition custodian saved her shot in the 27th minute as India pressed for that inevitable goal.
However, much against the run of play, the Indian defence fumbled in the 43rd minute when defender Ritu failed to clear her ball, allowing Bangladesh a clear shot at goal. But striker Anuching Mogini failed to find the net from close range as both teams headed to the interval locked goalless.
In the second half, the trend stayed the same with the Indian girls dominating possession and they were finally rewarded in the 67thminute.
In the 66th minute, Avika Singh found Sunita Munda in the box but the rival defence managed to clear it for a corner. Form the resultant corner, Sunita found the back off the net after she connected from Lynda Kom’s cross.
Having not much options, Bangladesh went all out in the attack. In the 76th minute, Bangladesh hit the bar. However, the Indian defence stood stern and goalkeeper Manish made agile saves in the dying minutes.
The Indian U-15 Women scored sixteen goals in four matches including the final and semi-final and conceded just one all throughout the Championship.

U-16 NATIONAL TEAM TO PLAY TURKEY, OMAN IN ISTANBUL CUP

AIFF PRESS RELEASE 18.08.2018: Less than two weeks after the Indian U-16 National Team finished runners-up to Japan in the five-nation WAFF U-16 Championship, the squad will be participating in the tri-nation Istanbul Cup in Turkey as part of their exposure for next month’s AFC U-16 Championship Malaysia 2018.
The colts will be playing Turkey U-16 National Team and Oman U-16 National Team in the tournament, and play another Friendly match with U-16 Besiktas before returning to India.
From January 2018, the team has so far played 19 International matches against U-16 National Teams including the likes of USA, Norway, Japan, Serbia, Iraq, DPR Korea, China (U-17), Thailand, Jordan amongst others.
"With us playing Oman in Turkey, the boys would now have played 9 of the qualified 16 teams (including India) for the AFC U-16 Championship. The quality of matches we played during the exposure tours will help the coach and the players in the long run as these are the countries which we will be playing often at the Asian level," National Team Director Abhishek Yadav maintained.
Yadav, a former India Captain felt the Istanbul Cup holds huge significance "as this is our last preparatory tour before the AFC U-16 Championship."
"We at AIFF believe this is good preparation before the AFC Championship. The exposure tours have helped the Coach and the players to gauge the standard and what to expect in the Championship," he maintained.
For the record, Bibiano's boys have played Friendly matches against all the Teams in Group A of AFC U-16 Championship (Malaysia, Japan, Tajikistan and Thailand) and three from Group B (DPR Korea, Yemen, Jordan) plus Iraq in the last 8 months.
Head Coach Bibiano Fernandes felt playing against Turkey and Oman will further enhance the confidence of the boys prior to the "acid test."
"We look forward to playing against Turkey who have played the FIFA U-17 World Cup a few times including the last edition in India in 2017. Furthermore, as Oman are part of the AFC U-16 Finals in Malaysia, nothing could be more appropriate build-up for us," he stated.
Turkey's youth development system has always been touted as among the best in Europe with the country having won the European U-17 Champions in 2005, and had finished semi-finalists in 2008, 2010 and 2017. They were also the European U-16 champions in 1993 having finished runners-up the next year in 1994.
Oman on the other hand have won the AFC U-16 Championship twice in 1996 and 2000 and had reached the quarterfinals the last time the Championship was played in Goa in 2016.
At the AFC U-16 Championship, India have been clubbed with strong contenders Iran, Vietnam and Indonesia in Group C and begin their campaign on September 21 against Vietnam. The four semi-finalists from the competition earn a direct berth to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019.
India's match schedule in Turkey stay as follows:
ISTNBUL CUP:

GFA encourages Clubs from ST Areas GFA PRESS RELEASE: 18.08.2018: The Goa Football Association has reduced the registration fees for new clubs hailing from ST areas by 50% of the current fees to encourage new clubs from these areas. GFA President, Mr. Elvis Gomes said that there is a huge pool of players in ST areas that remains untapped and hence to encourage more clubs from these areas, GFA decided to reduce the fees. New Clubs registration fees is Rs.20000/- which means the new clubs will be required to pay only Rs.10000/-. "There is a lot of sporting talent. My desire was to encourage the youth from these areas to play competitive football. Hence I moved the proposal which the Executive Committee accepted" said Mr. Gomes exhorting clubs from ST areas to register with the Association. GFA said that a simple certificate from the Panchayat or Municipality would be sufficient to show that atleast 75% of the people in the village are under ST category.
The GFA also decided to grant Provisional Registration to Bidesh XI Sports Club, an old club that had lost it's affiliation and FC Mardol a new club.
Meanwhile, GFA approved the appointment of Adv. John Abreu Lobo, a practicing Advocate in the High Court, as the Returning Officer for the forthcoming elections of the GFA Executive Committee.The President said that the election schedule would be released shortly in consultation with the Returning Officer as the GFA was gearing up to host the Junior National Girls Championship comprising of state teams from the 20th of this month. He said that the Electoral College List as on date would also be circulated to the Active Members for their record, which will be the Electoral List for the forthcoming elections.

I AM FIT TO PLAY FOR EAST BENGAL: ACOSTA

KFC NEWS DESK - 9.8.18: East Bengal officially announced the joining of Jonny Acosta the Costa Rican central defender. Acosta was an important member of the Costa Rica squad which participated in the recently concluded World Cup at Russia, played seventy international matches for Costa Rica. Jonny Acosta joined Red and Gold from Rionegro Agulias, one of the premier team from Columbia.

In a meeting in front of the media on Tuesday evening club President Dr Pranab Das Gupta and secretary Mr Kalyan Mazumdar revealed Jonny Acosta with jersey no 2, but the press conference were forced to defer on Wednesday evening due to the absence of a Spanish interpreter and unavailable of internet facility in the East Bengal club premises. The club authorities and their partner Quess were in a mood to use the Goggle transleter during the press conference.

In a press meeting at East Bengal club media room on Wednesday with help the of a Spanish interpreter Rabisankar Pal, the central defender from Costa Rica said, "I am thrilled and look forward to serve East Bengal in all possible ways. I had my regular training sessions after the World Cup and fully fit to start my journey for my new club. I am waiting for the international clearance and to complete the necessary arrangement.

While answering to a question Jonny Acosta said that he did not have any idea or experience about Indian or Kolkata football. Acosta is yet to taste the standard of Indian football but he is well aware that East Bengal is one of the oldest and biggest club in India. This is the main reason to join Red and Gold rather than to play in Indian Super League. He is in India to gather a new experience about Indian and play a high brand of football in India.

Paolo Maldini, the Italian central defender is Acosta's idol, though he admires the football talent of many international footballers. Acosta said that each and every footballer had a talent and style of playing. He want to utilise the style and variations in his playing. While answering Acosta said it's a good experience to play against Neymar Junior, the Brazalian striker in the World Cup, though he feels the performance of Costa Rica in World Cup 2014 in Brazil was much better where his country was qualified for the quarter final round. Jonny Acosta joins a list of famous international footballers, Nicholas Anekla, Roberto Carlos and Diego Forlan before he decided to play in an Indian club in search of a new venture.